The Pilgrim Experience Program, a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, released its 2024 annual report, boasting a 101% surge in arrivals compared to 2022, driven by streamlined procedures and cross-sector collaboration. This milestone underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing spiritual journeys while aligning with global tourism goals.
The report emphasizes the program’s accomplishments and those of its affiliated entities in enhancing services for pilgrims and Umrah performers. The Kingdom strives to provide a rich, seamless, and spiritually fulfilling experience from the planning stage to the safe return home.
Record Numbers of Pilgrims
In 2024, over 18.5 million pilgrims and Umrah performers arrived from abroad, including 16.92 million Umrah performers, surpassing the year’s targets significantly. The report highlights that 89 initiatives, implemented with over 40 government entities, achieved an impressive 95 percent compliance rate.
These initiatives cover all stages of the pilgrim journey, including transportation, rituals, and visits to historical and religious sites. Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, stated that the Saudi leadership prioritizes serving Hajj and Umrah pilgrims as a key goal of Vision 2030.
Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah welcomed more than 13 million visitors in 2024, a significant increase from 4 million in 2022. Visitor satisfaction also rose dramatically from 57 percent to 81 percent, reflecting improved service quality and overall experience.
Growth in Volunteer Engagement
Volunteer engagement saw substantial growth, with over 153,000 volunteers serving pilgrims in 2024. This number increased from just 15,000 in 2022, demonstrating a stronger culture of social participation within the community.
Internationally, the program conducted 33 overseas visits with public and private partners. These visits addressed logistical challenges, opened new routes, increased seat capacity, and eased travel for pilgrims. The Hajj and Umrah minister emphasized that these achievements result from the dedicated efforts of more than 40 partner organizations.
Globally, Makkah ranked fifth in international visitor numbers, while Madinah climbed to seventh in the global tourism performance index. These rankings reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading spiritual and cultural destination for travelers worldwide.
Advances in Digital Services
The report also highlights significant advances in digital services, particularly the Nusuk platform. This platform now offers over 100 services designed to streamline travel, booking, and pilgrimage arrangements for users.
Meanwhile, the Makkah Route initiative, aimed at expediting travel procedures for pilgrims in their home countries, has benefited over 940,000 travelers since its inception. This initiative showcases the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing the pilgrim experience.
The report concludes by emphasizing that these milestones reflect the unwavering support of the Kingdom’s leadership and the collaborative efforts of various government agencies. It reaffirms that serving pilgrims remains a top national priority, with ongoing innovation and integration to enhance their religious and cultural journey in alignment with Vision 2030 aspirations.
